People's Journal

Hours after it was sent crashing by a tall, disciplined Slovenian team, the Philippines downed El Salvador, 21-14, on Wednesday (Manila time) to end its campaign in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup on a winning note in Nantes, France.

The PH team made up of Kobe Paras, Jeron Teng, Kiefer Ravena and JR Quiñahan finished with two wins against the same number of defeats, missing the second round of this week-long tournament where the Filipinos made good account of themselves despite falling short.

Paras and Quiñahan waxed hot from the two-point area while also attacking at will to force the El Salvadorians into penalty early and establish an 18-10 lead which they heroically preserved until the final buzzer.

Although El Salvador scored four straight points to make the score close, the Filipinos responded through Teng, who scored on a layup and Ravena finished things off with a three-pointer, time down to only 80 seconds.

The Filipinos finished with a 2-2 record, beating Romania (21-15) in the opener before dropping consecutive matches against France (11-22) and Slovenia (14-21).

Ravena and Teng led scorers with seven points apiece, Quiñahan had four while Paras finished with three for the Filipinos, who earlier went down in sorry defeat at the hands of Slovenia.

The loss to the heavily-favored, 11th-ranked Slovenians was a costly one for the Philippines.

Led by big Anze Srebovt, the Slovenians scored the game’s first five points then jumped to a 14-4 lead as the Filipinos fired blanks and played miserably.

The Filipinos’ finest moments came when they trimmed the lead to four at 15-11 behind the heady play of Ravena on both ends to bring the elements of a good match back.

But that proved to be the Filipinos’ last big stand.

Two straight baskets from Gasper Ovnik and Simon Finzgar sent the Slovenians up and away again going into the final 1 minute and 21 seconds of the game.

Ravena led the Philippines with seven points to make up for the struggles of Paras, who finished with just four points. Teng had two points and JR Quiñahan a solitary point.

Slovenia, led by Ovnik and Finzgar with seven points apiece, ended the group phase unbeaten in four games to guarantee its place in the quarterfinal round.

LOS ANGELES -- Promoter Kathy Duva says the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight is “bad for boxing” and the backlash from the exhibition spectacle will likely dog the sport for years to come.

“Of course it's bad for boxing,” said Duva.

“It's going to suck up all the air in the room.”

Boxing legend Mayweather and mixed martial arts superstar McGregor announced plans on Wednesday for a boxing showdown that could become one of the richest bouts in history.

The fight will take place August 26 in the American boxing capital of Las Vegas.

“You\re all going to write about it. People will get all excited,” Duva said of the competition.

“And the casual fans we always want to bring into the tent are going to be disappointed again.”

“It’s going to be years before they want to see another boxing event,” she told the Los Angeles Times.

Mayweather, who is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, is a heavy favourite against McGregor -- who hasn't boxed competitively in the ring since he was a teenager.

“It's not a boxing event, it’s a spectacle,” said Duva, who is the promoter for Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev, who will fight Andre Ward in a world title light heavyweight rematch on Saturday.

“On the other hand, when this is over and this fight ends up the way I expect it will, the next time somebody asks me, 'MMA or boxing, what's the better sport?” I'll say, ‘We know who the bad asses are because Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor just got their asses kicked by two boxers.’

“We'll have that to cling to," she told the paper.

There are some who think that if McGregor starts losing he might resort to throwing elbows and kicks at Mayweather, but the promoters of the fight say that won't happen.

“It is in the contract,” said Dana White. “The fight is under the rules of boxing. There would be a lawsuit. If that ever happened, Conor would depart with a lot of money, and Conor likes money.”

White said plans are in the works to have the fighters go on a promotional tour of major US cities.

Since the fight was announced Mayweather has mentioned it just once via social media -- as he appears to be more concerned about showing off his extravagant lifestyle.

He has launched something he calls the “Mayweather Challenge" because he is “tired of people on social media bragging they live a certain lifestyle when they don't.”

Over the last few days, Mayweather has made a point of using his Twitter and Instagram to show off his private jet.

PHILIPPINE Constitution Association (Philconsa) through its Board of Governors and Officers manifested its support for President Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216 declaring Martial Law and suspending Habeas Corpus in Mindanao.

Philconsa President Martin Romualdez regrets that some sectors have questioned Proc. 216, notwithstanding the fact the great majority of the people and Congress have expressed their wholehearted support for Proc. No. 216.

Chairman Manuel Lazaro remarked the unfolding of the horrendous or heinous activities of Maute/IS every day since the proclamation has justified and warranted the judicious wisdom and propriety of President Duterte’s actions.

Romualdez and Lazaro intoned: “Now is the time for all citizens to stand united in support of President Duterte’s fight against the Maute/IS rebels to secure the safety of the people and the very existence of the state.”